Do You Ever Turn Off The Lights For a Couple Days?

[Reefer Matt]

What’s up Reefers! I was just wondering if anyone regularly turns off their lights for a day or two? I just had to do it recently, and my coral actually look better! I was thinking of maybe doing it monthly now.

 

[saltytanked]

It’s just your eyes and your brain.


Turning off lights for a few days does nothing for coral health, maybe dimmer lighting, but off, no…

 

[Reefer Matt]

It’s just your eyes and your brain.


Turning off lights for a few days does nothing for coral health, maybe dimmer lighting, but off, no…

Hmm, maybe I should get my new script for glasses.
So I can put you down as a “No” then?

 

[saltytanked]

Hmm, maybe I should get my new script for glasses.
So I can put you down as a “No” then?

Prolly should…

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

@Reefer Matt g fund for the e-bill.

 

[Garf]

Hmm, maybe I should get my new script for glasses.
So I can put you down as a “No” then?

Perhaps the lower alkalinity consumption increased the amount in the water? However, in reality I would guess its just because it was dim and drab for a few days, then POW!!.

 

[Reefer Matt]

Perhaps the lower alkalinity consumption increased the amount in the water? However, in reality I would guess its just because it was dim and drab for a few days, then POW!!.

That’s actually why I had them off. My Apex went out and my tanks weren’t getting dosed while I was at work. So I turned the lights off to maintain alk until the new unit came in. What I was referring to is increased polyp extension on my sps, though.

 

[Garf]

That’s actually why I had them off. My Apex went out and my tanks weren’t getting dosed while I was at work. So I turned the lights off to maintain alk until the new unit came in. What I was referring to is increased polyp extension on my sps, though.

pH changed?

 

[Reefer Matt]

pH changed?

Yeah. It is usually around 8.2 in both my sps tanks at peak photo period. But with lights off it stays around 8. Back to normal now though.

 

[plippert21]

I’ve never tried it but certainly an interesting idea.

What would be the hypothesis for coral benefiting from a day or two without lights?

Maybe one is having the lights off allowed them to feed for a longer period of time which in turn benefited them.

 

[Reefer Matt]

I’ve never tried it but certainly an interesting idea.

What would be the hypothesis for coral benefiting from a day or two without lights?

Maybe one is having the lights off allowed them to feed for a longer period of time which in turn benefited them.

Not sure if any benefit at all, really. Just curious if anyone did this. I’m not really suggesting it, just more of a casual observation and question.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Yeah my lights were off for a little while when I had to figure out how to get a replacement power brick for my light haha (this was prior to me having coral)

 

[Dan_P]

What’s up Reefers! I was just wondering if anyone regularly turns off their lights for a day or two? I just had to do it recently, and my coral actually look better! I was thinking of maybe doing it monthly now.

Interesting. “Looks better” needs elaboration though for understanding what was gained. Also, could the lights be too bright and your coral got a chance to recover from a slight case of photo inhibition?

 

[tigre44]

What’s up Reefers! I was just wondering if anyone regularly turns off their lights for a day or two? I just had to do it recently, and my coral actually look better! I was thinking of maybe doing it monthly now.

I did it during to he ugly stage to get rid of Dino’s but can’t really see a reason to do o it now in fact I run moon lights for a few hours each nite

 

[X-37B]

No.
After 2 days of lights off I would guess the corals are reaching for the light, which may be why you see greater polyp extention.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Maybe one is having the lights off allowed them to feed for a longer period of time which in turn benefited them.

Similar to this would be my thoughts - the corals may be trying to feed more since the zooxanthellae aren't getting as much light/producing as much energy.

 

[JasPR]

What’s up Reefers! I was just wondering if anyone regularly turns off their lights for a day or two? I just had to do it recently, and my coral actually look better! I was thinking of maybe doing it monthly now.

Personally I would think its more a behavior response than a reaction to water chemistry - sometimes a cigar is just a cigar
It would make sense that the 'reaching' is a feeding response and/or a response to a photoperiod.